Machine for making drinking and similar tubes



Aug. 27, 1940.

o. w. DIEFFENBACH MACHINE FoH MAKING DRIKING AND SIMILAR TUBES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Jan. 24, 1934 Aug- 27 1940' 2 vo. w. DxEFENBAcH- 2,212,915

MACHINE FOR MAKING DRINKING AND SIMILAR TUBES original Filed Jan. 24, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 27, 1940 n a srArEs uralt insonnia Fon MAKING DRINKING AND summa TUBES om W. nieffenbach, setembre, Ma. @riginal application January 24, 1934, Serial No.

708,064. Divided and this application March 20, 1936, Serial'No. 69,998

`12 claims.

The invention relates to a machine for making helically wound tubes of transparent cellulose derivative or other transparent flexible ma- K terial having the .properties hereinafter dehaving been in part a continuation of applica-v tion No. 682,860, iiled July 29, 1933,- on which Patent No. 1,944,970 was granted.

In accordance with the preferred practice of the invention, the material, which is preferably transparent sheet cellulose derivative in strip form, is wound helically about a mandrel and the tube immediately after it leaves the mandrel, is passed through aA heated area or oven which seals the overlapping edges of the helically wound strips thus forming an integral tubular structure. To effect sealing in this way, a self adi hesive sheet material is employed or the sheet material may be wholly or partly coated with a cement which is self adhesive when heated. There is not only no tendency for the tube to unwind in the oven, but on the contrary, a reduction in diameter is eected b-y heating, the overlapping portionsr being drawn tightly t0- gether and sealed. The tube is then cut auto.- maticaly into suitable lengths, the cutting operation being performed as the tubing emerges from the heated area.

It is of interest that inpassing the tubingthrough the oven, advantage is taken of the fact that the tubing is stili enough to be selfsupporting beyond the mandrel and is passed through the oven by the feeding impulse due to winding, eliminating the necessity for any tension device to draw the tube through the oven, which tensiondevice would tend to draw the successive turns of the tubes apartto mar the surface of the tube and possibly throw it out of round and injure its appearance. Also the tube is preferably supported out of contact with the heater, such contact being objectionable on account of the tendency of contactwith heated surfaces to shrivel the material. It will be understood that due to the winding action.

the tube rotates as it advances, the'mandrel being stationary. Y

It is further of interest that while the drinking straws or tubes can be'made of a single layer of. sheet cellulose, the term being used to describe the various-'cellulose compounds or derivatives of a transparent nature adapted for use in this fway, thespiral ribs i or thickened portions due to the overlapping of the successive turns of the helix being utilized as a reinforce to strengthen the tube, the tubes thus manufactured of a single layer in order to be sufficiently stiff to stand up in use, must be oi' such thickness as to require the use of sheet cellulose of. a thickness which would make the tube relatively expensive as compared to the paper tubes no w in use. However, the Vinvention contemplates the manufacture of a single layer and also of any other number of layers.

Various details and features of the product, and the machine by which the manufacturing operation is practiced are made apparent in the drawings and the description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a machine embodying the features of the invention in the preferred form together with y the operation by which the method of the invenf tion may be carried into effect.

In the drawings: Y

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine adapted to produce transparent tubes in accordance with the method of the invention, thevrear end of the machine being broken away for convenience of illustration. Y n Y,

, Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan drawn to the same scale and showing. the rear end of the machine,r the portion shown extending -ba-ckwardly from Figure 1 where the illustration is broken away. l

Figure 3 is a front elevation of' the cutter for severing the straws as they come from the winding machine, vthe delivery trough being shown in section. l

Figure 4 is a section on the line ll-Jlin Figure 1 showing the manner of feeding the strips or bands of materialof which the straws or tubes are composed to the winding machine and their relation to the belt.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5--5 in, Figure 1 showing the anti-friction support for the mandrei, y

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan viewof the mandrel on 4an enlarged scale showing the relation of the winding belt to the mandrel, and the material being wound thereonv to form the tube. f

Figure 7 is a viewfon line 1-1 the mandrel guide.

A Referringnow to Figures 1 and 2, the machine as shown comprises a iframe 3l havinga bed.

in lFigure -1 of 4secured to the supporting plate 5l.

plate 32 which as shown is substantially horizontal. This bed plate carries a horizontal transverse arm 33 which extends across and beyond the bed plate on each side, being shown as disposed at an angle of about forty-ive degrees to the length of the bed plate. This arm is shown as pivoted at the center on a bolt or pin 23 extending downwardly through the bed plate 52 and is secured in any desired position of adjustment by means of a second bolt 3ft, which passes downwardly through the arm and engages an arcuate slot 35 in the bed plate, concentric with the pin or bolt 33.

In the form of machine shown the driving pulley is mounted on the arm 33 at the left end on a suitable shaft 55 having a bearing in the arm extending downwardly in a vertical direction. to the shaft whereby the machine is driven in its operation. en this shaft under the arm 33. This pulley is driven b-y belt itl driving pulley 36.

' The opposite end of the arm 33 carries a driven pulley Si which rotates on a shaft 38 which may be mounted in a block 39 to slide in a slot Li in said arm 33. The slot extends in the direction of the length of the arm $3. As a means for maintaining the tension of the belt a cord or chain lll is attached at one end to the block Si] and passed downwardly over a pulley l2 carrying at its lower end a weight 43.

A mandrel 55 is secured in a suitable clamp 616 mounted on the bed plate near the lateral centre. The mandrel extends along the bed plate and is spaced upwardly therefrom into the plane of the pulleys Se, Si which rotate in a horizontal plane. The pulley 3l is driven from the pulley 35 by a crossed belt fil which is wrapped helicaly about the mandrel, the helical portion being indicated at 58. The delivery end of the mandrel is indicated at Ml. In accordance with the construction shown the belt tl is wrapped about the mandrel when it is placed on the pulley. `lhe mandrel being stationary or non-rotary, the belt is drawn off the mandrel by the drive pulley 35 which thus drives the pulley Si and draws the cellulose strips forwardly wrapping them about the mandrel to form the tube.`

The driven pulley 3l' delivers the belt through the guide 55 to be further described to the under side of the mandrel about which it is rolled helically in clockwise rotation in the form of the invention shown. The belt is drawn from the under side of the mandrel at the end remote from the observer in Figure l, the point of delivery being indicated by reference character 5i. The belt just beyond the pointof delivery 'is turned into a plane tangent to the drive pulley 36 by a guide roller 52 which serves to maintain the upper end of the helix in a constant and unvarying location, thus contributing to the uniformity of the helical winding of the tube, the mandrel l5 being necessarily of small diameter, is supported against the tension of the belt by a ball bearing guide 53 mounted in a suitable bracket 5ft. This is shown in detail in Figure 7.

The guide 5G which like the other elements of the machine may be subject to more or less Variation in design, in the form of the invention shown is mounted on an overlying supporting plate 5l', see Figures 1 and 4. The guide comprises registering hcrizontal plates through the topinost of which 55 is passed bolt 55 by which the guide is This support A suitable rotary motion is imparted The drawing shows a pulley lili),

is carried by bracket 55 mounted for adjustment along the machine base and in turn secured by bolts 58. The guide proper 5G comprises a series of plates Sil, 5|, 52, 63, Sil, 55, Figure 4, which are secured together in pairs by screws 55. The bottom pairs of plates 65, 5i serve as a guide for the belt Il?, the lower plate 65 being slotted in its upper surface, the slot being covered by the plate Gi to provide an opening 5l through which the belt passes and by which it is guided and presented to the underside of the mandrel 4! at the proper angle. These plates El) and 5i `are secured to each other in assembled relation by the screws 5B', as already pointed out. The next pair of plates counting upwardly, indicated by reference characters 52 and 63, are secured together by screw E52 and the upper plate 53 is slotted or apertured as to its lower surface to form an aperture t5 through which the lower or outside sheet 3 of cellulose or regenerated cellulose or other suitable material is fed, this strip being indicated by reference character 3. The next pair of plates overlying the plate 5@ are numbered respectively 6d and S5. These are secured to each other by two screws 55 and the bottom plate 6d is slotted or apertured as to its upper surface to provide an opening 51 through which the upper or inside strip of material 2 is fed.

The regenerated cellulose or other transparent strips indicated by reference characters 2, 3 in Figure 1 are fed to the guide 50 from any suitable retaining device suitably mounted to deliver the material but not shown. It is of importance in connection with the plates Si, 5E, G3, 55;, 85 that these plates are secured together as a whole in the relation shown or any suitable adjusted relation by screws or screw bolts 58 passed through ears 55 formed on the plate, sce Figures l and 5. These screws fit closely in the upper plates and are passed through slots 69 in the plates 50, 5l, t2 and 53, and are secured at the bottom by means of a nut, the bolt being passed through a suitable washer which underlies the slots. The lateral adjustment of the strips of material 2 and Il, already referred to, is obtained by sliding the plates 62, 53 as one laterally in their relation to the plates 515, 65. The position and angle of feed of the belt may be adjusted by sliding the plates E8 and El together relatively to the other plates. The adjustment shown in Figure i is one which has been found satisfactory, serving to present the strips of material to the mandrel causing them to be wound substantially in the relation illustrated. To obtain the arrangement 4of the strips overlying each other in exact registration so that they have the effect of a single strip of double thickness with their edges overlapped, in the nal construction, the plates $2 and are so adjusted as to bring the slot 55 directly beneath the slot 5l. To obtain the arrangement shown in which the edges of the strips are offset as in Figure S of my said application on which Patent #2,035,304 has issued, producing the tube illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the application, the plates 5x2-53 and 644-55 are so arranged as to give the offset illustrated in Figure 6 of said application, the angle of the belt and the angle of the feed. being such as t0 cause the ovelapping of the successive turns to be equal to this oiset so that the edges of the strips abut as shown at l5 and lll", particularly in Figure 5 of said application.

The angle at which the belt il is delivered to the mandrel 45 is changed under these circumstances by turning the entirel guide 55 sliding the 75 bolts 56 and "69 in their concentric arcuate slots 69 and 69"" in the overlying support 51. By changing this angle the overlap of the successive turns of the helical winding is varied and determined. The location of the guide may also be changed by moving bracket 51.

It is of interest that the position of the operative end of the mandrel remote from the observer in Figure 1 may be adjusted by moving the mandrel through the clamp 46 and securing it in any desired position of adjustment by tightening the bolts 10 and that weaving of the belt with consequent displacement and variation of the helical portion 48 and consequent variation of the tubes are prevented by the guide pulley 52 and the cooperating stationary guide 1l, the belt 41 being led oi the mandrel between the guide pulley 52 and said guide plate 1l, which overlies the guide pulley. The belt 41 passes between the pulley'52 and stationary guide plate 1l as the said belt leaves the mandrel denitely locating the point wherethe belt leaves the mandrel. These elements 52 and 1l cooperate with the guide 5G to maintain constant the angle or pitch of the helix of the belt and also the angle or pitch of the tube winding.

An important feature of the invention is found in the stove or heater shown fragmentarily in plan at 13 in Figure l, the rear end of the heating element together with the cutter and trough to be further described, being shown in Figure 2.

The heater 13is spaced off rearwardly from the rear end 4E of the mandrel 45, in order to provide for the free delivery of the belt 41 to the drive pulley 36 and for the placing of the guide pulley 52 and plate 1l, also to prevent heating of the material by radiation before it leaves the mandrel and to provide for the contraction of the tube due to heating which otherwise might tend to cause the material to stick to the mandrel due to binding of the tube about the mandrel. This contraction has an important eiect in the welding or sticking of the joints of the tube. In other words, the spacing of the heater from the mandrel provides for the contraction of the tube in the `space between the mandrel and the heater and incidentally provides room for the fingers of the operator to engage the tube after it cornes from the mandrel and insert it in the heater. To

7;, prevent unwinding of the tube at this point, the

end may be twisted or rosetted when iirst introduced, but this has not been found necessary, as there has been no perceptible tendency of the tube to unwind after it has been formed on the mandrel and fed forwardly in the manner described.

As shown, the heater 13 is formed with an opening or hole 14 extending longitudinally through the heater in line with the mandrel, the hole being somewhat larger than the tube to provide a clearance as shown between the tube 15 and the walls of the hole or opening 14. The tube is merely heated by radiation and conduction from the heating unit 16 whereby the material which is preferably regenerated cellulose is rendered self adhesive and the contraction of this material which is found to be incidental to this operation presses the joints tightly together and assists in joining the overlapping edge portions of the successive helices and the adjacent surfaces of the overlying multiple strips indicated by reference characters. 2 and 3 in Figure l herein and by reference characters 2 and 3 in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of said application '7(l8,06/l and by reference characters B and l in Figures Ll, 5 and 6 of said application also .joining all contacting 'portions of the material after winding and heating as described.

It is of interest that the heater 13 `in the development of the invention to date is composed of two grooved sections placed with the grooves in registration to form the opening 14, and the parallel opening 11 containing the heating units-or 'coils 16, the two halves orsections being combined to form the completed heater or oven. The temperature is controlled by a thermostat (not shown).

While tubes which are entirely satisfactory and of commercial quality have been made without this provision, the construction, Figure 1, shows spray nozzles 18 and 19 directed at the tube as it enters and leaves the heater or oven, the purpose being to spray the tube with a solution of a cellulose ester dissolved in a volatile solvent, serving to coat the tube with this material, thus increasing its resistance to bending, increasing its lustre and dust shedding properties and improving its appearance. 'Ihe liquid coating which may be of any desired composition, is supplied to the nozzles by wayof a pipe Sil from a con venient source of the liquid coating material under pressure. The supply to each nozzle is controlled by valves 8| and 8 i located in the tube adjacent the respective nozzles.

Another feature of the apparatus which in some form, is essential to the production of these straws in a commercial way, consists in the cutter unit 82 carried by a bracket 83 on the base 32.' The cutter is shown in elevation in Figure 3 and in plan on a small scale in Figure 2. The cutter blade 86 in the form of the invention shown is actuated by a solenoid or electro magnet 84, the core of which 85 moves the blade 85. This blade as shown is advanced by the action of the solenoid and retracted by a spring 31 which bears at one end against a collar. The collar is secured to the shaft 89 which is an extension of the sole noid core 85. The other end of the spring bears against the slide bearing 92, which carries the shaft 85 or any other suitable abutment. The bracket also carries a second slide bearing 93 for the shaft S9. This is adjacent the solenoid or COl 84'.

The operation of the cutter is controlled by a switch 94 which is normally open, the forward contact 95 being in the form of a very flexible spring plate and the rear Contact S being stationary. This switch is back of the bracket 83 which is apertured at 96 to pass the straw, the switch plates being mounted on a suitable overlying support 91 from which they depend in line with the opening 96. The tube or straw is fed forwardly by the operation of the helical portion 48 of the belt. The tube is thus formed and fed forwardly,7 rotating as it advances. As the end of the tube comes in Contact with the switch 94 which is spaced backwardly from the cutter by length corresponding to the desire-d length of the straws, the switch is closed by the thrust duey to the feed of the straw tube, and the lsolenoid isv operated, advancing the cutter blade 35 to the position shown in Figure 3, thus severing the length of tube between cutter bracket 83 and switch et in Figure 2. This length of tube-is thus dropped on the inclined delivery plate Sil from which it rolls into a suitable receptacle. The switch is then permitted to open due to recovery of the spring member S5 from the thrust of the tube, and the current being thus broken the solenoid coilA is deenergized and the core 85 of the solenoid and the shaft S9 'are withdrawn by the spring 8l to the right in Figure 3. Then the newly produced straw advances with great speed toward the cutter, so that it is difficult if not impossible to avoid contact of the cutter withl the straw on the back stroke which might tend to deflect and distort the straw or tube. For this reason the cutter is pivotally mounted as shown at 99 and a tendency to return to the cutting position is imparted to it by a light helical spring ii connected to an upwardly disposed arm lili of the cutter, the spring being oppositely secured to a braclret H12. The cutter blade B6 which in cutting position is preferably inclined, to give the desired shearing action is supported in cutting position and backward rotation is prevented by an abutment surface 18S, the cutter` being mounted in a suitable slot iili in the shaft S9, said abutment surface G3 being as shown a wall of said slot.

The operation briefly describe-d is that the cutter blade 3S being held against the abutment surface li by the spring i im' is advanced and severs the straw when its forward end due to the action of the helical portion of the belt advances into contact with the switch ad. The cut straw is then dropped and on the return stroke, assuming that a new length of the material is advanced through the opening 9@ the cutter coming in ccntact with the straw, the spring i513 yields to the lateral resistance of the tube and the cutter swings upwardly to be returned to cutting position prior to the forward or cutting stroke by spring itil. Then the newly cut end of completed tube advances into Contact with the switch @Il closing the same and actuating the solenoid for a second stroke to cut a second length of tube and so on.

In the operation of the machine the strip cellulose materiaas illustrated by strips 2 and 3 is through the guide 5t by the belt il which is wound about themandrel at #is thus overlying strip material which is fed to the lower side of the mandrel from the right and thus rolled about the mandrel in helical form by the belt. The tube thus formed, is at the saine time fed forwardly into the oven 13. 1he driving of the belt is effected by pulley Se which turns counter clockwise drawing the belt from the helical portion on the mandrel and leaving the material in the form of a helically wound tube as already described. The belt is driven at a high speed so that the tube advances rapidly through the oven.

The opening l@ in the oven being of greater diameter than the tube, provides for the spacing of the tube away from the heating surface surrounding the opening. This method of heating is considered better than the well known eX- pedient of heating and pressing, and as the contact of this material with the heater has been found to result in shrivelling, the tube is led through the oven without difficulty incident to unrclling, first on account of the tightness with which it is wound about the mandrel which causes it to take a permanent set, and further, because when it is once introduced into the oven, the portion in and beyond the oven immediately becomes welded or stuck so that there is no tendency for it to unroll, the winding operation being continuous, there is a continuous torque applied to the portion of the tube not only on the mandrel but between the mandrel and oven the torque being applied in the direction of the rolling. As already pointed out, any tendency which might be encountered incident to the tendency of the tube tounroll before it is inserted in the oven can be overcome by twisting vthe free end of the tube beyond the mandrel or forming a rosette, as it is called, however no such difficulty has been encountered in the manufacture of the tubing to date.

While it is not essential to the production of a .rcial tube, provision may be made for g the tube with cellulose esters or similar drying solution, both as it enters and leaves the oven, whereby a hard lustrous coating would be provided on the outer surfaces of the tube. Wl 'le there is but a single nozzle in each sprayposition, the entire surface of the tube is coated because of the fact that the tube as it is formed and fed forwardly is in rapid rotation and it is further within the scope of the invento rely on the adherent properties of the solu on thus sprayed to cause the successive tu. is of the helix to adhere in the absence of heating. The heating step is, however, of great producing a tube of more satisfacend permanent construction at a much ower cost.

is explained above, the tube shrinks in diamsomewhat between the mandrel and the point of delivery from the oven. The shrinkage of the tube together with the self adhesiveness of rat iai which results from heating has the oi joining tightly together by welding or ng, which ever term may be preferred, both le overlan'oing edges of the successive turns of tre helix d the overlying strips of material so that the co pleted tube has a substantially pernia ent construction which strongly resists disgration and will retain its shape and resil- Acy indefinitely in any kind of drink, whether A:gh percentage of alcohol.

As the tube is advanced beyond the oven, it is cut into a series of straw lengths by the operation of the cutting Vmechanism 82 which is controlled and tripped by the tube as it advances, switch 94 which is operated by the forward end of the tube being spaced forwardly from the cutter by a distance coresponding to the desired predetermined length of the straws. This switch is formed of depending spring plates 95, 95', supported on the lug or plate 9'! which overlies the forward end of the tube in its advanced position. The straw lengths as cut are dropped on the chute 9S whence they roll downwardly, into a suitable receptacle.

l have thus described specifically an apparatus for manufacturing tubes which contains numerous features of invention which contribute to the efficiency and to the degree of perfection withvvhich the tube is produced, the description being specific and in detail in order that the manner of constructing, applying, operating and using the invention may be fullly understood, however, the specific terms herein are used in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being dened in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for making tubes of sheet cellulose material having self adhesive properties when heated, the same comprising a mandrel, a beit wound helically around the mandrel, a guide for presenting strips of the tube material to the mandrel and a heater in line with the mandrel and beyond the same in the direction of the e hot or cold, charged with gas or containing feed, the heater -having an aperture in line with the mandrel.

2. A machine for making tubes of sheet cellulose material having self adhesive properties when heated, the same comprising a mandrel, a belt wound helically around the mandrel, a guide for presenting strips of the tube material to the mandrel and a heater in line with the mandrel and beyond the same in the direction of feed, the heater having an aperture in line with the mandrel of a diameter greater than the diameter of the resulting tubes so that the heater surface is spaced away from the tube as it is fed forwardly through the heater.

3. In a machine for making tubes of sheet cel-- lulose material, the same having a mandrel, a

belt wound helically about the mandrel, means for presenting strips of the material to the mandrel beneath the belt, the same compris-ing a guide having a guide member for the belt and a guide member for each strip, the respective strip guide members being laterally adjustable relatively to each other, to determine the o'set and alignment of the respective strips as they are fed to the mandrel and a heater through which the tubes pass from the mandrel.

4. In a machine for making tubes of sheet cellulose material, vthe same having a mandrel, a

Abelt wound helically about the mandrel, means for presenting strips of the material to the mandrel beneath the belt, the same comprising a guide having a guide member for the belt and a guide member for each strip, the respective guide members having means whereby they are secured in a plurality of different positions spaced laterally of the length of the belt, whereby said members are adjustable to determine the angle and the overlap of the successive turns of the helix.

5. In a machine for making tubes of sheet cellulose material, the same having a mandrel, a belt wound helically about the mandrel, means for presenting a plurality of strips of the material to the mandrel beneath the belt, the same comprising a guide having a guide member for the belt and a slotted guide member for each strip, through which slots the respective strips pass the respective guide members having means whereby they are secured in a plurality of different positions spaced laterally of the length of the belt, whereby said members are adjustable to determine the angle and the overlap ofthe successive turns of the helix and an antifriction guide engaging the helical portion of the belt on the mandrel to prevent deflection of the mandrel due to tension of the belt.

6. In a machine for making tubes of sheet material which is self-adhesive when heated, a mandrel and means for bending a plurality of strips of said material one over the other, about the mandrel in the form of a tube, the edges of the strips overlapping, a heater beyond the mandrel through which the tube is passed.

'7. A machine for making tubes of material which is self adhesive when heated, the same comprising a mandrel, means for imparting to the material a continuous tubular form about the mandrel and advancing it from the mandrel as it is formed and a heater beyond the mandrel in the direction of the feed adapted to heat and seal the continuous tube as'it passes and means beyond the heater in the direction of feed for severing pre-determined lengths of the tube.

8. A machine for making tubes of material which is self adhesive when heated, the same 'comprising a mandrel, means for imparting to the material a continuous tubular form about the mandrel and advancing the tube from the mandrel as the tube is formed, and a heater beyond the mandrel in the direction of the feed adapted to heat and seal the tube as it passes,

the heater having an'aperture in line with the.

mandrel, cf greater diameter than the tube, through which aperture the continuous tube is passed in the direction of its length in the sealing operation. l

9. A machine for making tubes of continuous Astrips of material which is self adhesive vwhen heated,`the same comprising a mandrel, means for imparting to the material a continuous tubular form by winding helically about the mandrel and advancing it from the mandrel as vit is formed and a heater beyond the tube contacting portion of the mandrel in the direction of the feed adapted to heat and seal the tube as it passes, the heater having an aperture in line with the mandrel of greater diameter than the tube, through which aperture the tube is passed in the sealing operation, the tube being supported free Aof contact with the heater.

10. A machinefor making tubes of continuous strips of sheet material, including portions which are self adhesive when heated, the same comprising a mandrel, means for winding the material helically about the mandrel with the edges of the self-adhesive material in contact and feeding it forwardly from the mandrel, a heater in line with the mandrel spaced forwardly of the tube-contacting portion of the mandrel in the direction of feed so that the continuous tube passes from the mandrel into heating relation with the heater, sealing the tube by the self adhesive properties of the material.

11. A machine for making tubes of continuous strips of sheet material, including strips which are self .adhesive when heated, the same com-A prising a mandrel, means for winding the material helically about the mandrel with the edges of the self-adhesive material in contact, thus forming a continuous tube and feedingthe tube forwardly from the mandrel, a heater in linek with a mandrel spaced forwardly therefrom in the direction of feed so that the tube passes from the mandrel into heating relation with the heater, sealing the tube by the self adhesive properties of the material, the relationship between the mandrel and the heater being such that the tube does not contact the heater.

12. A machine for making tubes of sheet-material in strip form, portions of which, sui'licient to seal the tube, are self adhesive when heated,

the machine comprising a mandrel, means for forming the material into a tube about the mandrel with the edgesof the adhesive material in contact and for advancing the tube as formed,

a heater beyond the mandrel, the heater having an aperture through which the tube is passed in heating relation thereto which seals the tube and a cutter beyond the heater, the cutter comprising a solenoid, having a core in cooperative relation thereto, a blade movably mounted on the core, a spring to retract the core, a spring of minute tension to bring the cutter to operative position on the core, permitting it to yield to the tube on the return stroke and a switch in circuit with the solenoid and in the path of the tube to be operatedby the tube, to complete the circuit as the tube advances, energizing the solenoid to operate the cutter.

OTTQ W. DEFFENBAQH, 

